Prior to the completion of a three-game season-opening series against the Phillies, the Morning News revealed that Darvish will come off the 15-day disabled list and start on Sunday on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Darvish felt strong and didn't experience any physical problems in an 86-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old was placed on the DL Sunday with stiffness in his neck. The move was retroactive to March 21, meaning Darvish could be eligible to return this weekend.

Darvish, who is 29-18 with a 3.34 earned-run average and 498 strikeouts in two MLB seasons, hasn't pitched since March 16 against the Chicago White Sox. He was scratched from his next scheduled spring training start on March 21.